Alcohol: Potential Permanent Mental Health Effects

The effects of long-term alcohol use are far reaching. Drinking can lead to traffic accidents, domestic abuse and other types of irresponsible behavior. While many of the consequences of excessive alcohol consumption are apparent, the mental aspects, which can affect an individual permanently, are sometimes ignored.

Memory Loss and Blackouts

Most people find an alternative mode of transportation such as a designated driver or cab if they are away from home and plan to consume alcohol. For those with long-term alcohol abuse,it may be difficult to acknowledge that they have a problem. Large quantities of booze may account for lapses in judgment, memory loss and even blackouts while behind the wheel. In such cases a devastating accident could occur within a split second. If such an incident occurs, seeking legal help immediately in the local area is the only option. For example, if a drunk driver is a Florida resident, a DUI attorney in Tampa could have the knowledge and expertise to handle their case should they get arrested and charged with an offense.

Anxiety

Individuals who abuse alcohol can find themselves enveloped by feelings of anxiousness, nervousness and paranoia. The depressed state of the central nervous system during alcoholic consumption causes the body to become fatigued and irritated by the smallest of infractions. Alcohol can also cause the heart rate to increase and blood pressure to soar. This can even intensify the seriousness of the panic and anxiety attacks.

Depression

A major effect on a person’s mental capabilities can greatly lead to depression. Alcohol is a depressant and can induce feelings of sadness, fatigue, negativity and worthlessness. If long-term drinking worsens, one could find themselves falling deeper and deeper into despair. Many continue drinking to overcome the sadness they feel, which turns into a vicious cycle that is very difficult to stop.

Brain Functioning and Disorders

As drinking continues, the cognitive development of brain function tends to lessen, and it may become difficult to retain information and remember events. Dependent on the length of time drinking, and the level of severity, this decrease in brain function may be able be reversed if alcohol consumption stops. In severe cases, neurological defects can occur and cause personality disorders, hypomania and dysthymia. One can also begin to have suicidal thoughts.

Men versus Women

Although men have been proven to abuse alcohol more than women, you’ll find that women are much more sensitive to the mental issues related to its consumption. Frequent disorders that can affect women can include anxiety, eating disorders, depression and psychiatric complications.

So much focus is given to the physical effects of alcohol consumption in excessive quantities. In addition to the dangers of driving while intoxicated, and the damage it can do internally, you’ll find alcohol to be just as damaging to your mental capabilities.

Freelance author J.L. Williams appreciates sharing information which can help make life less stressful for others. She routinely gaines information from searching terms like DUI attorney in Tampa online, for the purposes of providing valuable information to readers.